OSU By The Numbers• 2: Shutouts this season, the first time the defense has had more than one in a season since 2009, when it had three. • 2: Tight ends catching TD passes in Saturday’s win over Purdue, making the first time multiple TEs have scored in the same game since Rory Nicol and Jake Ballard against Indiana in 2006. • 3: Interceptions by cornerback Doran Grant, including a 33-yard pick-6 on the second play from scrimmage Saturday. • 3:Tackles for loss by linebacker Ryan Shazier on Saturday, tying a career-high. Two of them were sacks. • 4: Times this season the Buckeyes have amassed more than 600 yards total offense in game, including 640 vs. Purdue. • 5: Big Ten quarterbacks, including Braxton Miller, to record at least 40 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing TDs in the BCS era. • 6: Sacks of Purdue’s freshman quarterback Danny Etling, a season high. • 10: Consecutive games in which the Buckeyes have at least one interception. • 42: Points scored in the first half of each of the last two games, the first time the Buckeyes have scored at least 40 points in the first half in consecutive weeks since 1996 vs. Rice (42) and Pittsburgh (52). • 98: Yards rushing by backup QB Kenny Guiton vs. Purdue. It was a career high and marked the second straight game he has rushed for two touchdowns. • 116: Yards gained by Jeff Heuerman on five catches vs. Purdue, the first 100-yard receiving game by an Ohio State tight end since Rickey Dudley vs. Tennessee in the 1996 Citrus Bowl.

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For the Ohio State Buckeyes to come out of the gates any quicker than Saturday, they’d have to be Maverick Herman.

He’s the newborn son of OSU offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Tom Herman and obviously a chip off the ol’ block. Sneaky little Mav went to the hurry-up, catching dad — and mom — a tad by surprise.

All the scouting reports and doctors’ charts had him arriving during the Buckeyes’ second bye week. Instead he showed up Thursday, just in time for Saturday’s game with Purdue.

He didn’t want to miss seeing daddy pass out cigars to the Boilermakers — the exploding variety.

For the second straight week, the Buckeyes rung up 42 points in the first half. For the fifth time this season they scored at least 21 points in the first quarter. And for the 21st time in 21 tries, they won under coach Urban Meyer, the latest a resounding and totally expected 56-0 cakewalk.

Wonder what they would have done with an OC who wasn’t sleep deprived or more dialed in after showing up in the office for only about seven minutes on the day Maverick was born?

“I had to dock him a day’s pay,” Meyer joked after his Buckeyes’ second shutout of the season. “I was actually going to put a form letter on his desk, about him being docked, but I thought it would be in our best interests not to do that.”

Maverick’s a fine name, but Braxton Herman has a nice ring to it, too. Even though you won’t find it on the birth certificate, that signature is all over this OSU offense thanks to the deep working relationship that has developed between quarterback Braxton Miller and his Mensa member position coach.

Since returning from a sprained MCL in his left knee, Miller has thrown 15 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Three of those TDs came in the first quarter Saturday as the Buckeyes shot out to a 28-0 lead.

Things got out of hand so fast that backup QB Kenny Guiton got a chance to haunt the Boilermakers again. Late heroics in a pinch-hitting role were not needed this time. This was more like prolonged agony, with Guiton relieving Miller, directing two long TD drives, scoring twice (once with Miller lined up wide) and rushing for 98 yards.

“I respect the other quarterbacks in the league, but (if we’re picking in a) draft, I’ve got the two I like,” Meyer said

In nine games the Buckeyes have outscored the opposition 171-38 in the first quarter. By comparison, the mighty Ducks of Oregon are at 145-45 through eight games and unbeaten Baylor, averaging 64 points a game, is at 164-20 through seven.

With a defense that is finally in sync with the offense, Ohio State is closer to becoming the complete team Meyer has always envisioned.

“Our goal,” he said, “is to come back from the bye week faster and stronger than we were going into the bye week.”

It’s OSU’s turn to chill after playing four straight opponents coming off bye weeks. So much for extra preparation. The Buckeyes won those games by the collective margin of 193-68.

Maybe opposing coaches should watch less OSU game film and more Urban Meyer press conferences.

He apologized after the opener against Buffalo for not game-planning to get the ball more to Philly Brown. The following week Brown had two touchdown catches against San Diego State and he’s gone on to put together a season worthy of Big Ten honors.

Last Monday at his media luncheon, Meyer said tight end Jeff Heuerman needed to be rewarded for his blocking. Against Purdue, he had a career day, including a 40-yard TD catch and a 34-yard grab that set up another score, part of a five-catch, 116-yard afternoon.

“I’m the last part (of the formula),” Heuerman said. “It’s got to be a good play call by the coaches and good protection by the O-line to allow Braxton to throw a good ball. If all those things go right, we (receivers) have the easy part.”

It all looks easy right now ... like taking candy from Maverick Herman.